Important Wristwatches, Watches & Clocks

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 17, 1992

LOT 351

M*B (with a crown), punchmark for Mathieu Bachelet, Paris, circa 1580 Important gilt-metal striking table clock with alarm.

C. Circular, giIt brass the band engraved with four oval vignettes with landscape scenes representing the Four Seasons linked by an interlaced band to four further upright panels depicting the Four Elements, the borders with mythological figure and beasts each supporting a cornucopia, hinged inspection door inset into the side. Pierced shallow domed top, engraved with a variety of grotesque masks and rosettes. Push-fit base plate engraved with a complex pattern of fruit foliage, mythological birds and animais with interlaced circular vignettes and surrounding a blank cartouche. D. Engraved Roman hour chapter-ring attached to the case dome, with replaced concentric Arabic chaptered alarm disk. Single blued-steel arrow pattern hand. M. Circular gilt-brass plates with classical turned pillars, gilt brass trains, the going with tall narrow fusee and gut, two wheels and verge escapement with plain two-arm steel balance, now with single turn balance spring and Barrow (Gloria) type endless screw regulator. S-pattern plain blued-steel cock secured with a pin. Hour striking train also with gut fusee, the locking plate under the large shallow domed bell beneath the dial. Alarm train with vertical toothed steel great wheel attached to the going barrel end, with verge escapement. Let-off levers and click springs all blued. Four bun feet and blued-steel wishbone locking spring on the baseplate. Stamped with maker's punch on the backplate, Iater engraved signature inside baseplate. In good condition. Dims. 138 mm. diam., 107 mm. high.